Eastern University

Assistant Professor of English

I enjoy the interplay between established and innovative styles of pedagogy. In my classes, I strive to combine all of my creativity, personality, and intellectual energy when I juxtapose literary or visual texts in unique ways.

For example, when I teach my course on Shakespeare in Popular Culture, I first ensure that a thorough appreciation for Shakespeare’s plays, within their own historical, cultural, and theatrical context, is developed. In addition, I challenge students in their major assignments to extend their knowledge of Shakespeare by examining, for instance, how Midsummer Night’s Dream functions as a graphic novel, how the original Macbeth is used or misused by television producers, or how Romeo and Juliet is made relevant for a modern audience through rappers, film, or computer software. (see sample Shakespeare syllabus).

My research focuses on the “religious turn” in literary criticism, which emerged out of continental philosophy and postmodern theology. I find this field to be provocative because of its radical commitment to epistemological uncertainties, one that describes a God who can be seen and known only from a place of unknowing (see article below).

I tend to gravitate to the work of Jean-Luc Marion, a continental philosopher, and Richard Kearney, hermeneutic theologian. (see my Volunteer Experience and Pop Icons syllabus)

Eastern University

Chair of the English Department

Chair of the English Department, Eastern University, Aug. 2012 – Aug., 2014

I displayed an energetic commitment to updating the curriculum, departmental assessment, leading workshops, scheduling classes, hiring adjuncts, advocating and mentoring for faculty members, networking across the university, participating on committees, planning with administrators, supporting strategic implementation, and assisting admissions with recruitment at open houses.

I also persistently brainstormed with marketing about promoting the department and updated the departmental website (see website pictures below).

Advanced Skills and Enhanced Characteristics:

Administrative Leadership

• Program management
• Curricular development and assessment
• Research, analysis, reporting, and publication
• Interviewing, evaluating, hiring
• Scheduling, event planning, budgeting
• Collaborating with faculty and administrators


Communication, Service and Diversity

• Critical thinker, analytical, and creative
• Articulate and persuasive
• Strong presenter to small and large groups
• Webpage development and marketing the program
• Cultivate listening, engagement, and intellectual curiosity
• Appreciation for non-Western and minority cultures/literature
• Commitment to committee work and community service

Teaching and Training

• Work with first-year, non-traditional, advanced, and Honor students
• Student advising
• Mentor teaching assistants
• Facilitation of ideas
• Deploy innovative pedagogy to enrich learning

Personal Characteristics and Ethics

• Identify and encourage potential talents in students
• Appreciate ambiguity, complexity and challenges
• Spirited and industrious, and willing to travel
• Passion for aesthetics, marketing, and advertising
• Evident psychological and intellectual stamina
• Humorous and engaging

Excelsior College

Program Director, Humanities in the School of Liberal Arts

Reporting to the Associate Dean, I am responsible for overseeing online course development, revision, and instruction in the following humanities concentrations:

• fine arts
• communications
• literature
• cultural studies

Responsibilities

Curriculum Development, Implementation, and Evaluation

• Identify and recruit faculty for instruction and course development/revision.
• Plan and oversee online course development and revision.
• Plan course offerings and oversee course delivery.
• Assess course and program outcomes as appropriate.
• Conduct faculty evaluation as required by the College.
• Work collaboratively with College staff and faculty to resolve policy or curricular issues.

College and School of Liberal Arts Responsibilities

• Participate in School of Liberal Arts and College-wide committees and activities.
• Collaborate with other units for the provision of student services.
• Represent the College at professional meetings and forums.
• Participate in marketing and outreach activities.
• Participate in quality improvement and customer satisfaction activities.
• Manage instructional faculty to promote high levels of student engagement, persistence, and
student success.

Recent Course Developments

HUM305 Think Big: Innovations in Art, Communication, and Culture
HUM306 Creative Problem Solving
HUM300 Ethics
HUM321 I Feel Your Pain: Illness and Empathy in the Arts
COMM312 New Media, Relationships, and You
COMM345 Innovation and Current Trends in Communication
COMM320 Organizational Communication

Some Recent Committees

Chair of the Search Committee for Gaming Program Director
Chair of Program Director Retreat and Professional Development

Recent Conferences

American Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2015
Revolutionary Learning: Gaming 2016

God's Back: Tattoos, Theology, and the Postmodern Pantocrator in "Parker's Back"

Literature, Interpretation, Theory